Recommendations to Enhance the Residency Interview Experience for Programs, Applicants, and Clinical Education Sites

Background and Purpose:Many physical therapist students seek to continue their education through residency programs. The application process for residency programs frequently requires an interview that often coincides with the timing of terminal clinical education experiences (CEEs). Because the interview process may impact clinical education, a work group was established comprising directors of clinical education and residency program directors from across the country. The intent of this group was to provide concrete recommendations to facilitate post-professional physical therapy education while decreasing any negative impacts related to the residency interview process.Position and Rationale:Based on a survey conducted by the work group among residency program directors, student applicants for residency education will most likely be pulled away from their CEEs for up to 3 days to participate in interviews, missing critical opportunities for CEEs. The work group provided recommendations for specialty academies, academic programs, residency programs, and students that would support residency education while minimizing the impact of interviews on terminal CEEs. Recommendations include improving access to centralized information, promoting intentional application practices, and encouraging proactive communication among all groups.Discussion and Conclusion:The residency application process often requires an interview, which poses several implications for the applicant, one of which is time away from CEEs. Adherence to the work group's recommendations has the potential to minimize the impact of residency interviews on CEEs while still supporting the pursuit of residency training.